Sara Ali Khan opens up on social media trolling and its impact on her mental health: 'I do get affected'

Sara Ali Khan has spoken openly about the mental impact of social media comments and trolling. The actor said she does feel affected when audiences criticize her because her work is meant for them. At the same time, she said she has learned to balance public response with her own effort, process and faith. Sara also spoke about doing her best and letting go of unnecessary guilt.In an interview with IANS, Sara was asked if social media comments affect her mental health. The actor gave a direct answer, saying that criticism does affect her.“I’ll be lying if I say I don’t get affected. I do get affected because ultimately, I, you know, do what I do for my audiences, and if I disappoint them, I don’t feel good. But I think somewhere in this journey of having been here now for a while, you actually start also working for yourself. And I think I learned that late in my career,” Sara told IANS.The ‘Atrangi Re’ actor said audience reaction still matters to her. She added that her focus has always been on the people who watch her films. But with time, she has also learned the value of enjoying the work itself.Sara said, “I think for very long the initial focus was, and it’ll always be, I said ‘Janata Janata’ and I meant that. The focus will always be the audience. But if you truly start enjoying your work, you enjoy the process, and you tell yourself, not in a lie but in a genuine way, that I have done my best. That absolves you of any sort of mental guilt and self-flagellation for no reason. Then you feel like, I did my best, I did as much as I could, and now it’s up to God.”She added, “That gets easier if you put in your best, and then that’s it.”On the work front, Sara will next appear in the romantic comedy ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do.’ The film also stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Rakul Preet Singh, and Wamiqa Gabbi in key roles. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ is scheduled to release in theaters on May 15.